Reps move to increase Lagos LGAs to 57

The House of Representatives passed, through its second reading, a bill seeking to recognise the 37 development area councils of Lagos State as full-fledged local government areas during Wednesday’s plenary session.

This would increase the total number of Local Government Areas in Lagos State to 57 and the total number in the Federation to 811.

The private member bill was jointly sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke; the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson; and 20 other members.

According to the bill’s proponents, the legislation aims to amend the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to allow the 37 Development Area Councils of Lagos State to function as full-fledged Local Government Areas. This amendment would bring the total number of Local Government Areas in Lagos State to 57 and increase the total in the Federation to 811.

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Clause 3 of the proposed bill seeks to amend the First Schedule – Section 3, Part 1, Item 24 (Lagos State Local Government Areas), listing the recognized Local Government Areas as follows: Ikeja, Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, and Surulere.

In Clause 4, the lawmakers propose further amendments to the First Schedule – Section 3, Part 1, Item 24, to recognize additional Local Government Areas, including: Agege, Orile-Agege, Ajeromi, Ifelodun, Alimosho, Agbado-Oke-Odo, Ayobo-Ipaja, Egbe-Idimu, Igando-Ikotun, Mosan-Okunola, Amuwo-Odofin, Oriade, Apapa, Apapa-Iganmu, Badagry, Badagry West, Olorunda, Epe, Eredo, Kosi-Ejinrin, Eti-Osa East, Eti-Osa West, Iru-Victoria Island, Ikoyi-Obalande, Ibeju, Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ojokoro, Ikeja, Ojodu, Onigbongbo, Ikorodu, Ikorodu North, Ikorodu West, Imota, Ijede, Igbogbo-Baiyeku, Kosofe, Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Lagos Island West, Lagos Island East, Lagos Mainland, Yaba, Mushin, Odi-Olowo, Ojo, Oto Awori, Iba, Shomolu, Bariga, Oshodi, Ejigbo, Isolo, Surulere, Coker Aguda, and Itire-Ikate.

As highlighted in the explanatory memorandum, the bill seeks to convert the 37 Development Area Councils of Lagos State into full-fledged Local Government Areas.